Cellular network/WLAN VoIP service interaction by home wireless router

ABSTRACT

A home wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The home wireless router services a plurality of wireless terminals within the WLAN service area, the plurality of wireless terminals including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wireless terminal. The home wireless router receives a request to terminate a WLAN VoIP call to the VoIP wireless terminal. The home wireless router determines that the VoIP wireless terminal is currently servicing a cellular call via a cellular network. The home wireless router causes the cellular network to be misled into concluding that another cellular call is to be serviced by the VoIP wireless terminal, the cellular network places the cellular call on hold in the incorrect conclusion that it will service the another cellular call, and the WLAN VoIP call is terminated to the VoIP wireless terminal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to Wireless Local Area Networks(WLANs); and more particularly to the servicing of Voice over InternetProtocol (VoIP) communications by WLANs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Communication technologies that link electronic devices in a networkedfashion are well known. Examples of communication networks include wiredpacket data networks, wireless packet data networks, wired telephonenetworks, wireless telephone networks, and satellite communicationnetworks, among other networks. These communication networks typicallyinclude a network infrastructure that services a plurality of clientdevices. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is probably thebest-known communication network that has been in existence for manyyears. The Internet is another well-known example of a communicationnetwork that has also been in existence for a number of years. Thesecommunication networks enable client devices to communicate with oneanother other on a global basis. Wired Local Area Networks (wired LANs),e.g., Ethernets, are also quite common and support communicationsbetween networked computers and other devices within a serviced area.Wired LANs also often link serviced devices to Wide Area Networks andthe Internet. Each of these networks is generally considered a “wired”network, even though some of these networks, e.g., the PSTN, may includesome transmission paths that are serviced by wireless links.

Wireless networks have been in existence for a relatively shorterperiod. Cellular telephone networks, wireless LANs (WLANs), andsatellite communication networks, among others, are examples of wirelessnetworks. Relatively common forms of WLANs are IEEE 802.11a networks,IEEE 802.11b networks, and IEEE 802.11g networks, referred to jointly as“IEEE 802.11 networks.” In a typical IEEE 802.11 network, a wiredbackbone couples to a plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs), eachof which supports wireless communications with computers and otherwireless terminals that include compatible wireless interfaces within aserviced area. The wired backbone couples the WAPs of the IEEE 802.11network to other networks, both wired and/or wireless, and allowsserviced wireless terminals to communicate with devices external to theIEEE 802.11 network.

WLANs provide significant advantages when servicing portable devicessuch as portable computers, portable data terminals, and other devicesthat are not typically stationary and able to access a wired LANconnection. However, WLANs provide relatively low data rate service ascompared to wired LANs, e.g., IEEE 802.3 networks. Currently deployedwired LANs provide up to one Gigabit/second bandwidth and relativelysoon, wired LANs will provide up to 10 Gigabit/second bandwidths.However, because of their advantages in servicing portable devices,WLANs are often deployed so that they support wireless communications ina service area that overlays with the service area of a wired LAN. Insuch installations, devices that are primarily stationary, e.g., desktopcomputers, couple to the wired LAN while devices that are primarilymobile, e.g., laptop computers, couple to the WLAN. The laptop computer,however, may also have a wired LAN connection that it uses when dockedto obtain relatively higher bandwidth service.

Other devices may also use the WLAN to service their communicationneeds. One such device is a WLAN phone, e.g., an IEEE 802.11 phone thatuses the WLAN to service its voice communications. The WLANcommunicatively couples the IEEE 802.11 phone to other phones across thePSTN, other phones across the Internet, other IEEE 802.11 phones, and/orto other phones via various communication paths. IEEE 802.11 phonesprovide excellent voice quality and may be used in all areas serviced bythe WLAN. Typically, the IEEE 802.11 phones support a Voice overInternet Protocol (VoIP) application. Thus, hereinafter, IEEE 802.11phones may be also referred to as WLAN VoIP wireless terminals.

Significant problems exist, however, when using a WLAN to support VoIPcalls. Because WLANs typically service both VoIP calls and datacommunications, the WLAN may not have sufficient wireless capacity tosatisfy the low-latency requirements of the voice communication. Thewireless capacity limitations are oftentimes exacerbated by channelaccess rules imposed in many IEEE 802.11 installations. Further, roamingwithin a WLAN (between WAPs) can introduce significant gaps in service,such gaps in service violating the low-latency requirements of the voicecommunication.

Home wireless routers oftentimes service WLANs (serve as WAPs) within aresidential setting. The home wireless routers typically couple to theInternet via a cable modem or other broadband connection. The cablemodem network capacity, however, is shared by a relatively large numberof users and the availability of capacity to service communicationsbetween the home wireless router and the Internet varies over time. Thelimitations of this connection compromise the ability of the homewireless router to adequately service VoIP calls, even when the homewireless router's serviced WLAN has sufficient capacity. Such is thecase because VoIP calls typically require a minimum of 64 Kbps forsatisfactory service. When the broadband connection is a DSL connectionat 384 kbps, for example, this limitation is even more pronounced.

Thus, there is a need in the art for improvements in the operation andmanagement of WLAN devices, including home wireless routers, whenservicing VoIP calls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the above-cited shortcomings, among othershortcomings, a home wireless router constructed and operating accordingto the present invention causes a cellular call that is serviced by aVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wireless terminal to be placed onhold so that the home wireless router may terminate a WLAN VoIP call tothe VoIP wireless terminal. The home wireless router establishes aWireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that supports wireless communicationswithin a WLAN service area. The home wireless router then establishesbroadband communications via a broadband connection with a VoIP serviceaccumulator. The home wireless router then services a plurality ofwireless terminals within the WLAN service area, the plurality ofwireless terminals including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP) wireless terminal.

The home wireless router then receives a request to terminate a WLANVoIP call to the VoIP wireless terminal. The home wireless routerdetermines that the VoIP wireless terminal is currently servicing acellular call via a cellular network. In order to terminate the WLANVoIP call to the VoIP wireless terminal, the home wireless router causesthe cellular network to be misled into concluding that another cellularcall is to be serviced by the VoIP wireless terminal. In being misled,the cellular network places the cellular call on hold in the incorrectconclusion that it will service the another cellular call. With thecellular call on hold, the home wireless router and the VoIP serviceaccumulator set up and terminate the WLAN VoIP call to the VoIP wirelessterminal.

The cellular network may be misled into concluding that another cellularcall is to be serviced by the VoIP wireless terminal in a variety ofways. In one way, the home wireless router sends a message to the VoIPwireless terminal requesting WLAN VoIP call termination. In response,the VoIP wireless terminal sends a message to the cellular networkrequesting placement of the cellular call on hold. After the cellularnetwork places the cellular call on hold, the VoIP wireless terminal maysend a message to the home wireless router indicating that the cellularcall has been placed on hold. In misleading the cellular network, theVoIP wireless terminal may request that the cellular call be placed onhold so that another cellular call can be initiated by the VoIP wirelessterminal.

Using another technique for misleading the cellular network intoconcluding that another cellular call is to be serviced by the VoIPwireless terminal, the home wireless router/VoIP service accumulatorinitiates another cellular call with a predetermined Calling Line ID tothe VoIP wireless terminal via the cellular network. The cellularnetwork attempts to terminate the another cellular call to the VoIPwireless terminal. The VoIP wireless terminal recognizes the CallingLine ID. In response to recognizing the Calling Line ID, the VoIPwireless terminal sends a message to the cellular network requestingplacement of the cellular call on hold. After the cellular call isplaced on hold, the VoIP wireless terminal may send a message to thehome wireless router indicating that the cellular call has been placedon hold.

In some embodiments, a cable modem network services the broadbandconnection. In these embodiments, the VoIP service accumulator may be anelement of the cable modem network. In other embodiments, the broadbandconnection is a wireless connection such as a fixed wireless connection,a cellular network connection, or a microwave connection. In still otherembodiments, the broadband connection is an optical connection, a DSLconnection, a DSL2 connection, an ADSL connection, or an ADSL2connection. In each of these embodiments, the VoIP service accumulatoris typically an element within the servicing broadband network.

The method of the present invention may further include the homewireless router scanning through supported WLAN channels to determine atleast one preferred channel for servicing a VoIP call and the homewireless router subsequently using the at least one preferred channelfor servicing the VoIP call. The method may also include sending abandwidth reservation request to the VoIP service accumulator to reservecapacity on the broadband connection for servicing of the VoIP call andreceiving a bandwidth reservation response from the VoIP serviceaccumulator to confirm reservation of capacity on the broadbandconnection for servicing of the VoIP call.

The home wireless router typically includes a Wireless Local AreaNetwork (WLAN) interface, a broadband interface, and a processing unitcommunicatively coupled to the WLAN interface and to the broadbandinterface. The home wireless router further includes memory, internalinterfaces, and other internal components. The home wireless router mayfurther include an encryption/decryption accelerator used in servicingthe broadband encryption scheme corresponding to the broadbandconnection.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention madewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a communication systemconstructed and operating according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating a plurality of home wirelessrouters and their connection to a broadband network;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a home wireless routerconstructed and operating according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless terminal that servicesVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) operations according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of a home wirelessrouter according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to the presentinvention in handing over a VoIP call from a cellular network to a WLAN;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to the presentinvention in servicing both WLAN and broadband encryption schemes;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the manner in which WLANencryption schemes and broadband encryption schemes are servicedaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to the presentinvention in servicing a WLAN VoIP call;

FIG. 10A is a flow chart illustrating a first embodiment according tothe present invention in misleading a cellular network into concludingthat another cellular call is incoming for a VoIP wireless terminal;

FIG. 10B is a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment according tothe present invention in misleading a cellular network into concludingthat another cellular call is incoming for a VoIP wireless terminal;

FIG. 11 is a signal flow diagram illustrating operation according to theflow chart of FIGS. 9 and 10A; and

FIG. 12 is a signal flow diagram illustrating operation according to theflow chart of FIGS. 9 and 10B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a communication system 100constructed and operating according to the present invention. As shownin FIG. 1 the system 100 supports Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)communications within at least one WLAN service area. Home wirelessrouters 102 and 104 each service wireless WLAN communications forrespective WLAN service areas. Home wireless router 102 supports WLANcommunications with wireless terminal 114A, wireless terminal 116A(laptop computer), and wireless terminal 118B (desktop computer).Likewise, home wireless router 104 supports WLAN communications withinits respective WLAN service area. In supporting WLAN communications,home wireless router 104 supports wireless communications with wirelessterminals 114B, 116B, and 118B. As the reader will appreciate, thenumbers and types of wireless terminals that may be supported by thehome wireless routers 102 and 104 vary frominstallation-to-installation.

Home wireless routers 102 and 104 support WLAN communications accordingto a standardized communication protocol. The WLAN communicationprotocol may be one or more of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g,IEEE 802.11n, and/or another WLAN communication standard. Further, homewireless router 102 may support Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN)communications via the Bluetooth communication standard, the IEEE 802.15standard, or another communication standard.

Each of home wireless routers 102 and 104 couples to a broadband networkvia a broadband connection. In a first embodiment, a wired broadbandnetwork 106 services the broadband connections for the home wirelessrouters 102 and 104. The broadband network 106 may be a cable modemnetwork or another wired network that provides the broadband connection,e.g., a DSL connection, a DSL2 connection, an ADSL connection, or anADSL2 connection, for example. In another embodiment, a wirelessbroadband network 108 services the broadband connections for the homewireless routers 102 and 104. In such case, the wireless broadbandnetwork 108 may be a cellular wireless network that provides high speeddata service, e.g., CDMA2000, UMTS, etc., a microwave network, a fixedwireless network, or another wireless connection. Still alternately, thebroadband connection may be serviced via an optical network. In stillanother embodiment, the wired broadband network 106 services onebroadband connection while the wireless broadband network 108 servicesanother broadband connection. In any case, the WLAN VoIP serviceaccumulator 120 will typically be an element of, or coupled to the wiredbroadband network 106 and/or the wireless broadband network 108.

The home wireless routers 102 and/or 104, the broadband networks 106and/or 108, a WLAN Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) voice accumulator120, and the Internet 110 (among other components) service VoIP callsfor wireless terminals 114A, 114B, 116A, 116B, 118A, and 118B. The homewireless routers 102 and 104 determine particular needs of the wirelessterminals 114A, 114B, 116A, 116B, 118A, and 118B and service the VoIPcalls accordingly. The home wireless routers 102 and 104 operate incooperation with the WLAN VoIP service accumulator 120 to meet theseneeds. These operations will be described further herein with referenceto FIGS. 2-8.

According to another aspect of the present invention, at least one ofthe wireless terminals has dual wireless interfaces. One of the wirelessinterfaces allows a wireless terminal to interface with a cellularnetwork 112 while another of the wireless interfaces allows the wirelessterminal to interface with one of the home wireless routers 102 and 104.Operation according to the present invention includes handing over aVoIP call from the cellular network 112 to a WLAN serviced by eitherhome wireless router 102 or 104. Another operation includes handing overa VoIP call serviced by home wireless router 102 or 104 to the cellularnetwork 112.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating a plurality of home wirelessrouters and their connection to a broadband network. Each of homewireless routers 202A-202E services a corresponding WLAN service area204A-204E, respectively. Each of the home wireless routers 202A-202Ecouples to WLAN VoIP service accumulator 120 via wired broadband network106. In an alternate embodiment, one or more of the home wirelessrouters 202A-202E couples to the WLAN VoIP service accumulator 120 via awireless broadband network 108 (as was illustrated in FIG. 1). Incombination, the WLAN service areas 204A-204E form a combined WLANservice area as illustrated. According to some aspects of the presentinvention, the WLAN VoIP service accumulator 120 works in conjunctionwith the home wireless router 202A-202E to provide wireless service inthe combined WLAN service area formed by the plurality of individualWLAN service areas 204A-204E.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a home wireless routerconstructed and operating according to the present invention. The homewireless router 102 (104, 202A-202E) includes a processing unit 304,Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) 306, Static Random Access Memory(SRAM) 308, Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM) 310, andstorage 312. The processing unit 304 may be a microprocessor, a digitalsignal processor, a collection of microprocessors and/or digital signalprocessors, and/or any type of processing unit that is known to be ableto execute software instructions and interface with other components.The DRAM 306, SRAM 308, and EPROM 310 are examples of types of memorythat may be used in conjunction with the processing unit 304. Thestorage 312 may be hard-disk storage, tape storage, optical storage, orother types of storage that stores digital information that may beoperated upon or executed by processing unit 304.

Home wireless router instructions (HWRI) 316 are stored in storage 312and executed by processing unit 304 as HWRI 314. During certain portionsof their execution, HWRI 316 may be written to one or more of DRAM 306,SRAM 308, and/or EPROM 310 prior to loading into the processing unit 304as HWRI 314. The storage, loading, and execution of softwareinstructions are generally known and will not be described furtherherein, except as it relates particularly to the operations of thepresent invention.

The processing unit 304, DRAM 306, SRAM 308, EPROM 310, and storage 312intercouple via one or more processor buses 320. Processor bus 320couples to peripheral bus 322 via interface 318. Coupled to peripheralbus 322 are wired broadband interface 324,. WLAN interface 326, WPANinterface 330, and other components that may be present in variousembodiments of the home wireless router. The wired broadband interface324 interfaces to the broadband connection, which couples the homewireless router 102 to a broadband network, e.g., a cable network, anoptical network, or another type of broadband network. The home wirelessrouter 102 may also/alternatively include a wireless broadband networkinterface 328 and antenna 340 that provide a broadband wirelessconnection to a wireless broadband network.

The WLAN interface 326 couples to antenna 338 and services the WLANwithin a WLAN service area of the home wireless router 102, aspreviously described with reference to FIG. 2. The WLAN interface 326,as was previously described, supports one or more of various WLANprotocol standards. Such protocol standards may include the IEEE802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and/or IEEE 802.11n protocolstandards. The home wireless router 102 may further include the WPANinterface 330 that services a WPAN network about the home wirelessrouter 102. The WPAN interface 330 services the Bluetooth protocolstandard, the IEEE 802.15 protocol standard, or another similarstandard.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the home wirelessrouter 102 services multiple types of encryption and decryptionoperations. Particularly, the home wireless router 102 supports WLANencryption operations for serviced VoIP wireless terminals and broadbandencryption operations for the broadband network. Thus, in someembodiments, the home wireless router 102 includes a hardwareencryption/decryption accelerator 344 for servicing the WLAN encryptionoperations and/or the broadband encryption/decryption operations. Insome cases, the processing unit 304 services the WLANencryption/decryption operations and/or the broadband encryptionoperations.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless terminal that servicesVoIP operations according to the present invention. The VoIP wirelessterminal 400 includes a WLAN interface 404 and may include a cellularinterface 402. The WLAN interface 404 couples to antenna 408 andservices WLAN communications with a home wireless router 102 or 104 asillustrated in FIG. 1. The cellular interface 402 and antenna 406service communications with a cellular network 112 as illustrated inFIG. 1. Depending upon the particular construct of the VoIP wirelessterminal 400, the cellular interface 402 may support a TDMA standard,e.g., IS-136, GSM, et cetera, a CDMA standard, e.g., IS-95A, IS-95B,1XRTT, 1XEV-DO, 1XEV-DV, et cetera, or another cellular interfacestandard.

The VoIP wireless terminal 400 further includes a processing unit 410,memory 412, a user interface 416, and a battery 418. The processing unitmay be a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a combination of amicroprocessor and digital signal processor or another type ofprocessing device. The memory 412 may be SRAM, DRAM, or another type ofmemory that is generally known. Stored in memory 412 are WirelessTerminal Instructions (WTIs) 414 that are loaded into processing unit410 for execution. These WTIs 414 may include WLAN and/or broadbandencryption algorithm operations according to the present invention, aswell as other instructions that cause the VoIP wireless terminal 400 tosupport VoIP operations. User interface 416 includes the display,keyboard, speaker/microphone, and a data interface. The data interfacemay be a wireless personal area network (WPAN) interface such as theBluetooth interface or an IEEE 802.15 interface. Battery 418 providespower for the components of the VoIP wireless terminal.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of a home wirelessrouter according to the present invention. Operations commence with thehome wireless router establishing a WLAN within a WLAN service area(step 502). Generally, a WLAN is established according to thestandardized protocol operations set forth in the relevant operatingstandards, which have been previously described. The WLAN service areais typically setup about the home wireless router. Next, operationincludes establishing broadband communications via a broadbandconnection with a VoIP service accumulator (step 504). This broadbandconnection will be a wired connection, a wireless connection, or anoptical connection. As was previously described with reference to FIGS.1 and 2, the broadband connection may be serviced by a cable modemnetwork, an optical link, etc. Further, the broadband connection may bea wireless point-to-point connection.

Operation continues with servicing a plurality of wireless terminalswithin the WLAN service area. Such servicing will include servicing atleast one VoIP wireless terminal in the WLAN service area (step 506).Operation next includes determining that a VoIP wireless terminaldesires VoIP call servicing within the WLAN service area (step 508).Upon making this determination, a bandwidth reservation request is sentfrom the home wireless router to the VoIP service accumulator via thebroadband connection. The bandwidth reservation request is made in anattempt to reserve capacity on the broadband connection for servicing ofthe VoIP call of the VoIP wireless terminal (step 510). This bandwidthreservation request may conform to the resource reservation protocol(RSVP) operations. When the data reservation request conforms to theRSVP operations, servicing of the VoIP call for the VoIP wirelessterminal may proceed according to the real batch time to transportprotocol (RTP).

Operation continues in receiving a bandwidth reservation response fromthe VoIP service accumulator to confirm reservation of capacity of thebroadband connection for servicing of the VoIP call (step 512). Again,the operations at step 512 may conform to the RSVP operations and insuch case servicing the call may correspond to the RTP operations.Finally, with the bandwidth on the broadband connection reserved,operation includes servicing the VoIP call for the VoIP wirelessterminal via the WLAN and the broadband connection (step 514). The VoIPcall is serviced until terminated by either the VoIP wireless terminalor the far end VoIP terminal coupled via the Internet 110 or thebroadband network.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operation of the present inventionin handing over a VoIP call from a cellular network to a WLAN. Theoperation of FIG. 6 commences with a VoIP wireless terminal roamingwithin a WLAN service area of a corresponding home wireless router (step602). When the VoIP wireless terminal roams into the WLAN service area,the VoIP wireless terminal registers with the home wireless routerservicing the WLAN service area (step 604). When the VoIP wirelessterminal roams into a WLAN service area, or at some time thereafter, theVoIP wireless terminal requests VoIP call service from the WLAN (step606). Prior to servicing the VoIP call service request, the homewireless router determines whether WLAN and broadband connectioncapacity is available for such servicing (step 608). In making thisdetermination, the home wireless router may consider channel usagewithin the WLAN service area and/or its current broadband connectionusage.

If either the WLAN or the broadband connection does not have sufficientcapacity to service the VoIP call, the wireless terminal is deniedaccess to the WLAN for VoIP call servicing. However, if capacity isavailable on both of these segments, the operation of FIG. 5 may beemployed to request capacity on the broadband connection and to begranted capacity on the broadband connection (step 610). With thecapacity of the broadband connection granted, it is next determinedwhether handover of the VoIP call from the cellular network is desired(step 612).

Handover of the VoIP call is only required if an ongoing VoIP call isbeing serviced by the cellular network. When the wireless terminalsimply desires to initiate a VoIP call within the WLAN, no such handoveris required. However, if handover of the VoIP call is required from thecellular network to the WLAN, such operation is completed (step 614). Inorder to handover the VoIP call from the cellular network to WLAN,interaction with the cellular network 112 is required. Interaction withthe cellular network requires signaling between the home wireless routerand a signaling element of the cellular network 112. This signaling mayalternately be provided by the VoIP service accumulator instead ofdirectly between the home wireless router with the cellular network 112.In such case, the VoIP service accumulator acts as an agent for the homewireless router. When handoff is completed (from step 614) or whenhandoff is not required (from step 612), the home wireless routerservices the VoIP call until completion (step 616). From step 616,operation is completed.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to the presentinvention in servicing both WLAN and broadband encryption schemes.Referring now to FIG. 7, when servicing a VoIP call for a wirelessterminal, a particular encryption scheme may be employed by the VoIPwireless terminal. The WLAN interface of the home wireless router willtypically support one or more encryption schemes. Currently, WLANssupport various WLAN encryption schemes. One particular WLAN encryptionscheme is the Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP) encryption protocol.Another WLAN encryption scheme is the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)encryption protocol. The WPA encryption protocol is similar to the IEEE802.11i encryption protocol, which may be referred to as WPA2. Each ofthese WLAN encryption schemes provides some security for WLAN VoIPcalls. These types of WLAN encryption schemes, however, are typicallyless secure than broadband encryption schemes serviced by other types ofcommunication devices. According to one aspect of the present invention,WLAN encryption schemes are supported for WLAN communications whilebroadband encryption schemes are supported for communications on thebroadband connection.

Thus, according to the present invention, when the home wireless routerinitially services a VoIP call for a VoIP wireless terminal, the homewireless router identifies a WLAN encryption scheme that the VoIPwireless terminal supports (step 702). In other operations, the homewireless router will presume a particular WLAN encryption scheme thatthe VoIP wireless terminal supports. The home wireless router thendetermines whether it supports the WLAN encryption scheme of the VoIPwireless terminal (step 704). If the home wireless router does supportthe WLAN encryption scheme employed by the VoIP wireless terminal, thehome wireless router sets up the WLAN encryption scheme for servicing(step 706).

Next, from both step 706 and from a negative determination at step 704,the home wireless router optionally requests and is granted capacity onthe broadband connection for servicing of the VoIP call (step 708).Then, in servicing the VoIP call for the VoIP wireless terminal, thehome wireless router sets up a broadband encryption scheme forsubsequent communications via the broadband connection (step 710).Finally, the home wireless router services the VoIP call untilcompletion using a WLAN encryption scheme for the WLAN link and abroadband encryption scheme for the broadband connection (step 712).Thus, WLAN wireless communications between the VoIP wireless terminaland the home wireless router are protected by a WLAN encryption schemewhile the wired communications and the broadband connection areprotected by a broadband encryption scheme.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the broadband encryption scheme(s) may beimplemented and serviced by the hardware encryption/decryptionaccelerator 344. Further, the processing unit 304 of the home wirelessrouter 102 via its HWRI 314 may service one or both of the encryptionschemes.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the manner in which WLANencryption schemes and broadband encryption schemes are servicedaccording to the present invention. The protocol layer operations of theVoIP wireless terminal, the home wireless router, and a broadbandnetwork element, e.g., the VoIP service accumulator are illustrated.Protocol layers supported by the VoIP wireless terminal include upperlayers 802, layers 2 and 3 804, and layer 1 808. In the embodiment ofFIG. 8, the WLAN encryption scheme 806 is implemented in layer 2 and/orlayer 3 804 on the VoIP wireless terminal. As was previously described,examples of the WLAN encryption scheme are the WEP standard, the WPAstandard, and the 802.11i encryption standard (WPA2), among others.

Layer 1 808 of the VoIP wireless terminal communicates directly withlayer 1 816 of the home wireless router via a wireless link of the WLAN.In servicing WLAN communications, the home wireless router includesupper protocol layers 810, layers 2 and 3 812, and layer 1 816. The WLANencryption scheme 814 serviced by the home wireless router resides atlayer 2 and/or layer 3 812.

Home wireless router also includes protocol layers that servicebroadband communications with the VoIP service accumulator. Theseprotocol layers include upper protocol layers 818, layer 2 and 3 820,and layer 1 824. One example of a broadband encryption scheme 822serviced by the home wireless router operates at layer 2 and/or layer 3.The broadband communications between the home wireless router and theVoIP service accumulator are via a wired broadband connection, awireless broadband connection, or an optical broadband connection. Incommunicating with the home wireless router, the VoIP serviceaccumulator includes layer 1 832, layer 2 and layer 3 828, and upperprotocol layers 826.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to the presentinvention in servicing a WLAN VoIP call. Referring now to FIG. 9,operation commences with the establishment of a WLAN within a WLANservice area (step 902). Operation continues in establishing broadbandcommunications via a broadband connection with a VoIP serviceaccumulator (step 904). Next, a plurality wireless terminals includingat least one VoIP wireless terminal are serviced within the WLAN servicearea (step 906). Then, according to the present invention, an incomingWLAN VoIP call setup request is received requesting that a WLAN VoIPcall be terminated to the VoIP wireless terminal service by the WLAN(step 908).

When the incoming WLAN VoIP call setup request is received, the homewireless router determines whether or not the VoIP wireless terminal hasan ongoing cellular call (step 910). When the VoIP wireless terminaldoes have an ongoing cell call as determined in step 910, the homewireless router and/or the VoIP service accumulator operates to misleadthe cellular network into concluding that it is placing the cellularcall on hold in order to service another cellular call (step 912).Particular embodiments of the operation of step 912 will be furtherdescribed with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B.

From both step 912 and from a negative determination at step 910,operation proceeds to step 914. At step 914, the home wireless routermay request and receive a reservation of bandwidth on the broadbandconnection as was previously described with reference to FIG. 5. Then,the home wireless router sets up and terminates the WLAN VoIP call tothe VoIP wireless terminal (step 916). Operation ends after theservicing of the WLAN VoIP call for the VoIP wireless terminal via theWLAN has concluded.

FIG. 10A is a flow chart illustrating a first embodiment 1000 accordingto the present invention in misleading a cellular network intoconcluding that another cellular call is incoming for a VoIP wirelessterminal. As shown in FIG. 10A, in misleading the cellular network intoconcluding that another cellular call is incoming from the VoIP wirelessterminal, the home wireless router first sends a message to the VoIPwireless terminal requesting WLAN VoIP call termination (step 1002). Thehome wireless router and the VoIP service accumulator possess priorknowledge that the VoIP wireless terminal is currently servicing acellular call. In response, the VoIP wireless terminal sends a messageto the cellular network requesting that the cellular network place thecellular call on hold (step 1004). After the VoIP wireless terminal hassent the request to the cellular network to place the cellular call onhold, the cellular network places the cellular call on hold (step 1006).With the cellular call placed on hold, the VoIP wireless terminalresponds to the home wireless router that the cellular call has beenplaced on hold (step 1008).

The operations of FIG. 10A according to the present invention mayrequire some modification of the VoIP wireless terminal of FIG. 4. Suchmodification may be performed by simply altering the WTI 414 that arestored on and executed by the VoIP wireless terminal 400. However,according to another embodiment of the present invention, the steps ofFIG. 10A may be particularly employed without modification of the VoIPwireless terminal.

FIG. 10B is a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment 1050 accordingto the present invention in misleading a cellular network intoconcluding that another cellular call is incoming for a VoIP wirelessterminal. As a first operation, the home wireless router and/or the VoIPservice accumulator call the VoIP wireless terminal via the cellularnetwork with a pre-determined calling line ID (step 1052). The VoIPwireless terminal recognizes the calling line ID received via thecellular network and sends a message in response thereto to the cellularnetwork requesting that the cellular network place the cellular call onhold (step 1054). In response thereto, the cellular network places thecellular call on hold (step 1056). With the cellular call placed onhold, the VoIP wireless terminal responds to the home wireless routerthat the cellular call has been placed on hold (step 1058). Thus, withthese operations complete, the VoIP wireless terminal then receives theWLAN VoIP call from the WLAN.

FIG. 11 is a signal flow diagram illustrating operation according to theflow chart of FIGS. 9 and 10A. These operations 1100 illustrate oneparticular embodiment in which the home wireless router/VoIP serviceaccumulator/VoIP wireless terminal mislead(s) the cellular network intoconcluding that another cellular call in incoming for the VoIP wirelessterminal. The VoIP service accumulator first receives a WLAN VoIP calltermination request from the Internet/PSTN (step 1102). The VoIP serviceaccumulator forwards this WLAN VoIP call termination request to the homewireless router (step 1104). The home wireless router then determinesthat the VoIP wireless terminal is operating within the WLAN and sends aWLAN VoIP call termination request to the VoIP wireless terminal (step1106). However, because the VoIP wireless terminal is currentlyservicing a cellular call, the VoIP wireless terminal responds to thehome wireless router that it is busy and currently servicing a cellulartelephone call (step 1108).

In response to this message from the VoIP wireless terminal, the homewireless router sends a message to the VoIP wireless terminal requestingthat the cellular call be placed on hold (step 1110). The VoIP wirelessterminal, upon receiving this cellular call hold request, resultantlysends a cellular call hold request to the cellular network (step 1112).The cellular network, believing that the VoIP wireless terminal wouldlike to initiate another call via the cellular network, responds to theVoIP wireless terminal with a cellular call hold response (step 1114).With the cellular call placed on hold, the VoIP wireless terminalresponse the home wireless router with a cell call hold response (step1116). The home wireless router responds by sending a cellular call holdresponse to the VoIP service accumulator (step 1118). Finally, with theVoIP wireless terminal capable of servicing the WLAN VoIP call, the homewireless router and the VoIP service accumulator set up the WLAN VoIPcall and services until completion via the VoIP wireless terminal andthe Internet/PSTN (step 1120).

FIG. 12 is a signal flow diagram illustrating operation according to theflow chart of FIGS. 9 and 10B. In a first operation, the VoIP serviceaccumulator receives a WLAN VoIP call termination request from theInternet/PSTN (step 1202). The VoIP service accumulator forwards theWLAN VoIP call termination request to the home wireless router thatcurrently services the VoIP wireless terminal (step 1204). The homewireless router then sends the WLAN VoIP call termination request to theVoIP wireless terminal (step 1206). Since the VoIP wireless terminal iscurrently servicing a cellular call, the VoIP wireless terminal respondsto the home wireless router with a message indicating that it iscurrently servicing a cell call (step 1208). The home wireless routerresponds to the VoIP service accumulator with a message indicating thatthe VoIP wireless terminal is currently servicing a cellular call (alsoat step 1208). In response thereto, the home wireless router and/or theVoIP service accumulator place a call to the VoIP wireless terminal viathe cellular network with a pre-determined calling line ID (step 1210).As is illustrated in FIG. 12, this call setup is performed via theInternet/PSTN, which accesses the cellular network for cellular calldelivery to the VoIP wireless terminal.

The cellular network receives the call setup request from the homewireless router/VoIP service accumulator and provides the VoIP wirelessterminal with an incoming call alert (step 1212). In response to thisincoming call alert, the VoIP wireless terminal requests that thecellular network place the currently ongoing cell call on hold (step1214). In response thereto, the cellular network places the ongoingcellular call on hold and responds to the VoIP wireless terminal thatthe cell call has been placed on hold (step 1216). Note that the callplaced by the home wireless router/VoIP service accumulator (at step1210) is not terminated to the VoIP wireless terminal via the cellularnetwork. According to the present invention, the VoIP wireless terminal,in response to receiving the call via the cellular network with thecalling line ID, responds to the home wireless router with a cell callhold response (step 1218). The cell call hold response is forwarded fromthe home wireless router to the VoIP service accumulator at step 1218.With these operations completed, the VoIP wireless terminal is availablefor servicing the WLAN VoIP call and the call is setup between the VoIPwireless terminal and the Internet/PSTN via the home wirelessrouter/VoIP service accumulator and terminated to the VoIP wirelessterminal (step 1220).

As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, the term“substantially” or “approximately,” as may be used herein, provides anindustry-accepted tolerance to its corresponding term. Such anindustry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to twentypercent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values,integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise andfall times, and/or thermal noise. As one of average skill in the artwill further appreciate, the term “operably coupled”, as may be usedherein, includes direct coupling and indirect coupling via anothercomponent, element, circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, theintervening component, element, circuit, or module does not modify theinformation of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level,and/or power level. As one of average skill in the art will alsoappreciate, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled toanother element by inference) includes direct and indirect couplingbetween two elements in the same manner as “operably coupled.” As one ofaverage skill in the art will further appreciate, the term “comparesfavorably,” as may be used herein, indicates that a comparison betweentwo or more elements, items, signals, etc., provides a desiredrelationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may beachieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1.

The invention disclosed herein is susceptible to various modificationsand alternative forms. Specific embodiments therefore have been shown byway of example in the drawings and detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the drawings and description thereto are notintended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but onthe contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalentsand alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as defined by the claims.

1. A method for operating a home wireless router comprising:establishing a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that supports wirelesscommunications within a WLAN service area; establishing broadbandcommunications via a broadband connection with a VoIP serviceaccumulator; servicing a plurality of wireless terminals within the WLANservice area, the plurality of wireless terminals including a Voice overInternet Protocol (VoIP) wireless terminal; receiving a request toterminate a WLAN VoIP call to the VoIP wireless terminal; determiningthat the VoIP wireless terminal is currently servicing a cellular callvia a cellular network; misleading the cellular network into concludingthat another cellular call is to be serviced by the VoIP wirelessterminal; the cellular network placing the cellular call on hold in theincorrect conclusion that it will service the another cellular call; andthe home wireless router and the VoIP service accumulator setting up andterminating the WLAN VoIP call to the VoIP wireless terminal.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein misleading the cellular network intoconcluding that another cellular call is to be serviced by the VoIPwireless terminal comprises: the home wireless router sending a messageto the VoIP wireless terminal requesting WLAN VoIP call termination; andthe VoIP wireless terminal sending a message to the cellular networkrequesting placement of the cellular call on hold.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, further comprising the VoIP wireless terminal sending a messageto the home wireless router indicating that the cellular call has beenplaced on hold.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the VoIP wirelessterminal sending a message to the cellular network requesting placementof the cellular call on hold comprises requesting that the cellular callbe placed on hold so that another cellular call can be initiated by theVoIP wireless terminal.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein misleading thecellular network into concluding that another cellular call is to beserviced by the VoIP wireless terminal comprises: the home wirelessrouter/VoIP service accumulator initiating another cellular call with apredetermined Calling Line ID to the VoIP wireless terminal via thecellular network; the cellular network attempting to terminate theanother cellular call to the VoIP wireless terminal; the VoIP wirelessterminal recognizing the Calling Line ID; and the VoIP wireless terminalsending a message to a serving cellular network requesting placement ofthe cellular call on hold.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprisingthe VoIP wireless terminal sending a message to the home wireless routerindicating that the cellular call has been placed on hold.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein the broadband connection is wireless and is selectedfrom the group consisting of a cellular network connection, a microwaveconnection, and a fixed wireless connection.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the broadband connection is wired and is selected from the groupconsisting of a cable modem connection, a DSL connection, a DSL2connection, an ADSL connection, and an ADSL2 connection.
 9. The methodof claim 1, further comprising limiting access to the WLAN in order toadequately service the WLAN VoIP call.
 10. The method claim 1, furthercomprising: sending a bandwidth reservation request to the VoIP serviceaccumulator to reserve capacity on the broadband connection forservicing of the WLAN VoIP call; receiving a bandwidth reservationresponse from the VoIP service accumulator to confirm reservation ofcapacity on the broadband connection for servicing of the WLAN VoIPcall; and servicing the WLAN VoIP call for the VoIP wireless terminalvia the WLAN and the broadband connection using the reserved capacity.11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: terminating a WLANencryption scheme serviced by the VoIP wireless terminal; and servicingthe VoIP call via the broadband connection using a broadband encryptionscheme.
 12. A home wireless router for operating a home wireless routercomprising: a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interface; a broadbandinterface; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the WLANinterface and to the broadband interface, wherein the processing unit isoperable to: direct the WLAN interface to service a plurality ofwireless terminals within a WLAN service area, the plurality of wirelessterminals including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)wireless terminal; direct the broadband interface to establish broadbandcommunications with a VoIP service accumulator via a broadbandconnection; receive a request, via the broadband connection, toterminate a WLAN VoIP call to the VoIP wireless terminal; determine, viathe WLAN interface, that the VoIP wireless terminal is currentlyservicing a cellular call via a cellular network; mislead the cellularnetwork into concluding that another cellular call is to be serviced bythe VoIP wireless terminal so that the cellular network places thecellular call on hold in the incorrect conclusion that it will servicethe another cellular call; and direct the WLAN interface and thebroadband interface to set up and terminate the WLAN VoIP call to theVoIP wireless terminal.
 13. The home wireless router of claim 12,wherein in misleading the cellular network into concluding that anothercellular call is to be serviced by the VoIP wireless terminal, theprocessor is operable to send a message to the VoIP wireless terminalvia the WLAN interface requesting WLAN VoIP call termination, whichcauses the VoIP wireless terminal to send a message to the cellularnetwork requesting placement of the cellular call on hold.
 14. The homewireless router of claim 13, wherein the processing unit is furtheroperable to, via the WLAN interface, receive a message from the VoIPwireless terminal indicating that the cellular call has been placed onhold.
 15. The home wireless router of claim 13, wherein the processingunit is further operable to via the WLAN interface cause the VoIPwireless terminal to request that the cellular call be placed on hold sothat another cellular call can be initiated by the VoIP wirelessterminal.
 16. The home wireless router of claim 12, wherein inmisleading the cellular network into concluding that another cellularcall is to be serviced by the VoIP wireless terminal, the processor isoperable to initiate another cellular call with a predetermined CallingLine ID to the VoIP wireless terminal via the cellular network so that:the cellular network attempts to terminate the another cellular call tothe VoIP wireless terminal; the VoIP wireless terminal recognizes theCalling Line ID; and the VoIP wireless terminal sends a message to aserving cellular network requesting placement of the cellular call onhold.
 17. The home wireless router of claim 16, wherein the processingunit is further operable to receive a message via the WLAN interfacefrom the VoIP wireless terminal indicating that the cellular call hasbeen placed on hold.
 18. The home wireless router of claim 12, whereinthe broadband connection is wireless and is selected from the groupconsisting of a cellular network connection, a microwave connection, anda fixed wireless connection.
 19. The home wireless router of claim 12,wherein the broadband connection is wired and is selected from the groupconsisting of a cable modem connection, a DSL connection, a DSL2connection, an ADSL connection, and an ADSL2 connection.
 20. The homewireless router of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is furtheroperable to limit access to the WLAN in order to adequately service theWLAN VoIP call.
 21. The home wireless router claim 12, wherein theprocessing unit is further operable to: send a bandwidth reservationrequest via the broadband interface to the VoIP service accumulator toreserve capacity on the broadband connection for servicing of the WLANVoIP call; receiving a bandwidth reservation response from the VoIPservice accumulator to confirm reservation of capacity on the broadbandconnection for servicing of the WLAN VoIP call; and service the WLANVoIP call for the VoIP wireless terminal via the WLAN and the broadbandconnection using the reserved capacity.
 22. The home wireless router ofclaim 12, wherein the processing unit is further operable to: terminatea WLAN encryption scheme serviced by the VoIP wireless terminal; andservice the VoIP call via the broadband connection using a broadbandencryption scheme.